SHCC opposes police investigation in dengue death case

The Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) has opposed the registration of an FIR over doctors of Liaquat University Hospital in a case pertaining to the death of a young man due to dengue virus caused by alleged negligence of the hospital. In a letter addressed to the Station House Officer of Market police station on Monday, the commission's Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahsan Qavi Siddiqui underscored that the police cannot precede the commission in the matter of investigating accusations against a health practitioner.

He referred to section 29 of the SHCC Act, 2013, which barred the police from such an action. "No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding related to provision of healthcare services shall lie against a health service provider except under this Act," reads the reference in the letter.

"This statutory provision establishes that any allegations of medical negligence on part of a health service provider are first subjected to a technical inquiry by the SHCC." The CEO reiterated as per the law only the SHCC can investigate and determine whether the alleged acts amounted to medical negligence.

Siddiqui emphasized that the issue should be handed over to the SHCC for further inquiry. The Market police station on October 28 registered an FIR, nominating Prof Dr Iqbal Shah, Medical Superintendent of the LUH Dr Akbar Dahiri, Dr Musarat Baloch and some other doctors under section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code.

The police claimed that the FIR was lodged on the complaint of advocate Aamir Lutf Ali Zardari, father of the deceased Hasnain Ali Zardari.

Zardari blamed the accused doctors for their negligence during medical treatment of his deceased son. The FIR stirred a strong reaction from the medical community.